Thank you for sharing this must read article !
This can be a great place to start a much need conversation of the treatment of First Nations women and women around our world .
I look forward to reading the responces from this group.

Thank you for sharing this must read article !
This can be a great place to start a much need conversation of the treatment of First Nations women and women around our world .
I look forward to reading the responces from this group.

You know, I know... everybody - OK-OK-OK... that this is not the place to have such a conversation, my dear.

This article is worth the reading, though, I do believe, because Leonard Cohen is surfing on so many human and crucial questions for societies and beings and their perrenial and happyness. Like having a healty holly sexuality. Among others major subjects.

This said, may you enjoy with the soulmate of your heart, this "mate song" of Who by Fire.

which deserves many other comments reliated to other subjects pointed in this paper.

But for now I would like to concentrate on only one : What is in the book is a symbol of what did happen to the First Nations. (all the novel is written in symbolism)
First
and Second.

What is happening now to the First Nations women, is by far worst than anything in the novel - and I'm glad that he had the Genius to have those people said themselves how disgusting this is.

Thanks for posting the article T, it's a good article and she has some great points though I think that she is also a bit harsh. Not to say that the book isn't obscene and offensive but but that's art for you - not everything in this world (or the mind) is sunshine and roses. I don't know if Leonard was a genius (quite possibly) but I think that you're right that he was well ahead of the game with recognizing what was going on.

The article - I don't think that I read the symbolism as deeply as the author, she said that the first nations womens bodies were a symbol for 'intercultural violence'. I hadn't gotten quite there in my thinking but now that I've read it I can see it that way. My first read of it was at 17 and I felt like Cohen was asking some questions in his book and kind of playing out some scenarios to figure out possible answers. One of the questions that I read in the book is - How do humans do such horrible things to one another?

The scene that the article author mentions where the priest is molesting Catherine is a good example. Whether intentional or not Cohen brings the reader in as both victim and perpetrator. I totally get why this offensive to the article writer as he writes about this abuse of Catherine in a humorous titilating way. It feels uncomfortable.
The thing is, he wrote this in 1964! Children were still being snatched to live in the residential schools where they faced many forms of abuse often at the hands of priests and nuns. What he wrote about happening to Catherine was was still happening when he wrote this book. I don't know what kind of public discussion was happening at that time in Canada but I'm pretty sure that Cohen was talking about an open secret that was to taboo to mention.

The rape of Edith is even more disturbing, especially 'I's reaction to it (he likes to fantasize about it) but again 1960 Leonard is talking about something very current. The men who chase her down see her as something 'other'. It's only when she pees herself in fear that some of their humanity kicks in. For non-Canadians who might read this, we have a huge problem in Canada with First Nation women going missing or being murdered at alarming rates and only now are authorities taking action.

at the end of her ariticle the author says "For these reasons, Beautiful Losers will likely continue its slide into the dustbin of history ..."

I hope not. This book is as beautiful as it is ugly, there are so many amazing and wonderful passages and yah it's has a lot of fucked up parts in it but this world can be pretty fucked up at times and real peoples thinking can be pretty fucked up just like "I''s thinking is pretty fucked up. (sorry for all the 'fucked ups' it's just a fun phrase to type)

(I wish Greg was here to respond to your post T. - he would have had something very thoughtful response to it and I bet a unique perspective)

A genius of 25 may be really not the same person as a zen monk in is eighty. Obvious isn't it ?

Nevertheless, I encourage anyone to explore the subconcious mind and its language. And the Depht Psychology in general. Thouroughly.
To read about History of Canada a bit, and not only the official politicly correct versions.
To explore anthropology a little. And sociology.
And to plundge into the history of american lit.

As an appetizer.

Then, to reread the novel (don't puke)

To begin with.

After this, maybe, maybe, someone will find the courage to go further and analyse thoroughly this peace of art. How many people would be needed on the team ? I wonder.

P.S. Always nice to read from you Cate !

***
"He can love the shape of human beings, the fine and twisted shapes of the heart. It is good to have among us such men, such balancing monsters of love."